Convertible rotary and nonrotary self-opening die-head



Patented July l2, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

ROYCE M. STEICKLANEOENEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, AssIGNoETo THE eEoMETEIC i Toor.- COMPANY, on 'NEW EAVEN, coivivEoTnnrT, A CoEroEATIoN- CONVERTIBLE ROTARY A.aim NCNECTAEY SELF-OPENING DIEHEAD Application filed May 19,

This invention relates'to an improvement in convertible rotary and non-rotary selfg opening die-heads7 that is to say, die-heads which may be employed either in machines which rotate the die-head with respect thereto, or in machineswhich non-rotatably hold the die-head and at the same timerotate the Work with respect thereto. v Y j f I Heretofore, `self-opening die-heads: have fallen into twodistinct classes,v i. e., onetype referred to asvrotary, being designedfor use in situations requiring 4the ,rotation ofV the die-head, and anotherdistinct type com-` monly referred to as non-rotary or hand type.

The main object of my present inven, tion is to provide a self-opening die-headVV which may bereadilya-nd conveniently converted fromv aV non-rotaryf to a rotary diehead and vice versa, whereby Va single diehead may be relied upon to perform the work usually requiring two distinct and expensive tools. Y C

A further object of my invention is to pro-V vide an accurate and durable die-head of the type referred to; and constructed `with particular reference to compactness Aand'convenience of operation. j Y

TVith the above and other objects in view as will appear from the following, my invention consists in a convertible self-opening die-head characterized by a 'Chaser-controL ling sleeve having both forwardlyand rearwardly-facing shoulders by-means of which the die-head may be tripped Aand reset respectively; and an outwardly-projecting hand-lever pivotally engaging theV said Chaser-control sleeve and the body ofthe diehead for both tripping and resetting the tool, and mounted in such manner as to be readilyremovable without requiring the disassembly of the die-head Awhereby the removal and :re-A placement of the said hand-lever will respectively convertthe die-head from a non? rotary to a rotarytype and vice versa. Y

My invention further consists in a convertible rotary and non-rotary self-opening die-head characterized as above and having certain other details of constructionk and com-V binations of parts as will be hereinafter de-Y as a rotary die-head.; Y

1931. .Serial N0. 538,449.

Fig. l visa central longitudinal :sectional view corresponding to Fig. 3 with certain of' the parts broken away and showing the parts of the die-head in the positionsrwhichftheyassume when the die-head has been tripped for eifecting the retraction of the chasers; i

Fig. 5 `isa longitudinal sectional view taken ontheline 5-5ofFig-2; j r 'ik 6 'is a vertical Vcentral longitudinal 'sectional vview corresponding 'toFig.Ala-ibut showing the operating-handle orlever asha-v-A ing been removed to convert the vtool for use Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional on the line 7-7 of Fig.\3; Y i

Fig. 8 is acorresponding view taken onV view taken y the line 8 8 of Fig. 3; Y

Fig. 9 is a detail sectioalviewl taken on the line 9-9'of Fig. 2;

Fig. l0 is ay perspective view of one of the reciprocatingchasers detached, Aand on a larger scale;and

Fig. 11 is a brokendetailview nal sectionillustrating a modified construction in which the adjustingnut orV collar'islA operated by means of a longitudinal screw. The particular self-opening die-head here-V in chosen for the illustration of my invention consists,"as shownyof a body-member 15 having a, rearwardlyfextending. shank `16: by means of which` the tool may be mounted in-V- any suitable threading machine; and 'havingy its forward end shapedto forma headepor-Q tion 17 through which extends an axial bore 18 preferably, and as shown, extending also` completely through the body-memberincluding the shank 16 thereof. 'v The head-portion 171 is formed in its for-` ward face with fourfmore or less) radial guide-grooves 19 in each of which is installed fm in longitudiing the chasers 20 radially to engage and disengage them fromthe Work, I employ. a sleevelike"chaseroperatingy member 23 mounted upon the body-member 15 With Capacity` for axial reciprocating movement and carrying four forwardly-*projecting operating-pins 24 (one foreach of the chasers 20). Each of the operatingfpins 24, just referred to, is cut awayon one side to form an inclined operating-rib orkey-25 iitting into a similarly-incined groove 26, one of which is formed in the side face of each of the chasers 20.

YForthe purpose of normally urgin'gfthe chaser-operating member 23 Vrearwardso as to therebyy effect the concurrent outward retraction of the'chasers 20, I 'employ a pairofy complementary retracting-springs 27, each of Awhich is housed Within a forwardly-openingsocket l28, formed int-the said Chaser-operating member 23, as clearly shown inl `Fig. (9,: Y and bearing at 'lits forward end against the rear Vfaceof the head-portion 17 of the body'- neember`15.y i'

For' the purpose` of releasabily holding' thei Chaser-operatingmember-23 inits'forvvard position againstr theqcounterurge of the springs`27 so as to-man-tainthe chasers20` -in their 1 inwardly-projected or 'cutting positions`,l`ernploy fa segmental loelringmember 29 mounted ina trans'verseY groove {d0-formed in the chasser-operating member 23. I

'@The said Vlocking', n'rfen'nber 29;,abovey referred to is normally urged 'radially out- Wardby a pair ofvv complementary springs 31-31, housed inY pockets 324-32`fo`rmed in' the upper face of the respective opposite ends of the said locking-member which also Vhas itsA forward outer corner beveled to form a camsurfa'ce 33, adapted to be engaged by a simi. larly-sloped cam-'surface A 34 formed Within' theinterior of a combined Vresetting-an'dtripping sleeve 35,.' substantially enveloping the periphery of the said 'cl'i'fas'erloperating"4 member 23v and axially movable With respect thereto andrwith respect tothe body-member.

11'51 uponthe periphery of theheadbportion 177V Y ing-shoe 38 adapted tor-blev forcedy into en-l eeeemntgwgtli; the' Seid bedr-member Y fer upon which bears for guidance. *i n Y vTherear face Vof the locking-member 29 is adapted to engagefor the' purpose of locking the die-head in position fora cuttingfoperation, the forward'falceV ofthe 'Harige 36 of. a

cup-shaped adjusting-nut' 37 threaded upon theybody-member V15, just forward k ofthe shank 16 thereof, as clearly shown in Figsf 8 tot` inclusive, and provided With'a lockanchoring the adjusting-nut against acci-` dental rotation by means of a set-screw- Y. The interior of the combined resettingl and-tripping sleeve 35 is formed with an annular forwardly-facing resetting-shoulder 40 adapted to engage the rear faceA 'of a similar shoulder 41 constituting the ferward face of an annular iiange 42 formed upon the chaserope'rating member 23 beforev referred to; the

relationship "of the shoulders `40 and 4l being such that the sleeve 35 Will move the said Chaser-operatingmember 23 forward from the position in4 which it is shown in Fig. 4 to l i that in Which-it is shown in Fig. 3, but Will still be free for relative rearward movement with respect thereto lfor the purpose of operating the locking-member 29 as will herein-- afterappear.l A v Y e The combined tripping and resetting sleeve 35'Y is formed upon its outer periphery near its rea-r end vwith an annular groove 43,

Y the respective front andrear Walls of which constitute a resetting-'slroi'ilder 44 and a trip` pine-'shoulder'- 45 adapted to' 'be engaged by a y'okeelil're l fixture forming a'usua'l feature of threading machines, `for the' purpose as willv hereinafter appearf` Y e For the'purpeseof previdingo-tiie use er my 'improveddiehead as a nonerotary hand operated tool,.I employ a combined chaser- .releasing and @baser-resetting hand-lever -46 radiallyV projecting from? the die-bead struc f tuireandmounted byV means of a transverse pin`47 for'i rocking movement forwardl and baekwa'rdwith' respect tefthedie-iieed, Y Y. Y TheVV pin Vv47,6 fjust refeifred ite,-V projects thrdur'gha spnerieaiiy-eonteured annular-rib 48 formed upon the said handle and into c'om-v piementarytangentiai bores 49 remedie the sleeve 85, on the respective opposite sides of a. radial passage 'etherein, which latter is closed against theentrance of dirt and chips Y by the said spherically-contoured rib -48` of the The inne'rend off the hand-lever 4G passes through a radial 'notch 51 termed inthe for Ward face 'of the chaserpperating member 23'- 'and provided 'with' a spheriea1ly-feen-- toured terminal 52 entered intoI radifaiseeket' f 53 formed in theperiphery of the body-mem-f yber -15to 'the rear 'of the -hea'd-pordenv 17 thereofrr 'f Let it be supposed that it is desired teem. ploy my improved eonve'rtibie die-head ae aY 'noni-rotary tool in which c-'asefthe handle-lever 46, if net already in piece in the diie-head structure,- 'vvi'lil be'ins'talied inf the combined trippingLand-resetting sleeve. 35 by position'A ingit therein and inserting thev 'pm through: l

one of the t'ang'enti'ai` bores' 49,2throiigii theY bore" inthe rib48 'of the` handle,l'and thence Y into the complementary bore'49 asclearly' shown in;v Fig. 8. a

a With the parts posi-tiened? as' sho-Wn 3, the -tocl is either-'advancedtoward the Vvvorl'; f

ist

ment of the sleeve 35 withrespect to the bodymember 15 and cause thecam-surface 34 of the said sleeve to move the locking-member 29 inward, so as to disengage its vrear Vface rom the forwardface of the sleeve-portion 36 of the cup-shaped adjusting-nut 37.

The relative rearward movement of the sleeve 35 with respect to the Chaser-operating member 23, is permitted by the one-way connection, so to speak, of the same with the Chaser-operating member 23. In other words, when the sleeve 35 is moved-rearward as described, its shoulder 40 will ride away Jfrom the shoulder 41 on the said Chaser-operating member. v y

Immediately upon the clearance of the locking-member fromthe sleeve 35, as above described, the retracting-springs 27-27 will assert themselves and snap the Chaser-operating member 23 rearwardly so as'to cause the operating-pins 24 thereof toV retract the chasers away from the work and release the same.

Preparatory to another threading operation, the hand-lever 46 will be swung forwardly with the effect of similarly moving the combined tripping-and-resetting sleeve 35 forwardly so as to cause its resetting-shoulder 40 toengage the resetting-.shoulder 41 of the Chaser-operating member23 to eifect the concurrent forward movement thereof with the said sleeve `35. Y

, The forwardmovement of the chaseroperating member 23 just described, asV effected through the intermediary of the outer sleeve 35, will cause theoperating-pins 24 thereof to move the chasers 20'radially inward into position forengagement with .the work and permit the locking-member 29 to be snapped radially outward by its springs `31'-31 for locking engagement with the forward end of the sleeve-portion 36 of the adjusting-nut 37.

Now should production requirements demand the use of my improved die-head as a rotary too-l, the same may be converted for. such purpose by axially removing the tangential pin 47 upon which the hand-lever 46 is mounted, and removing the latter from the die-head structure. A suitable plug may, if desired, he then installed in the radial passage 50 in the sleeve 35 to exclude dirt andi chips.

The die-head structure will nowhaveasupon .the tripping-shoulder 45 ofthe ,sleeve 35 so as to causefthe same to retract the locking-member29and thus unlock the'chaseroperating member 23 for rearward movement to effect the retraction of the chasers.

The tool may be reset for another threading operation by any means pressing forwardly upon the resetting-shoulder 44of the combined tripping-and-resettingsleeve 35, which Vwill cause the latter to move the Chaser-,operating member forwardlyand thus bring the chasers into their'cutting positions andat the same time permit the locking-member 29 to move radially outward for engagement with the forwardface of the sleeve-portion 36 of the adjusting-nut 37. Y

The convertible featureof my improved die-head is accomplished mainly through the fact that the hand-lever 46 is pivotally con-. nected to the combined Chaser-releasing and Chaser-resetting sleeve 35 from which itis re- 'Ior soE

movable without requiring the disassembly ofv the die-head structure, as'already described, to permit the use of my improved die-head` as a rotary tool. V Y v A Y Instead of providing an adj usting-nut-such as 37 which is threaded upon thebody-member'15 so as to be adjustable forward and back with respect thereto to regulate the size of the thread to be cut bythe chasers, I may, as shown in Fig. 11mo-unt .an adjustingsleeve 54 upon the body-member 'withca-f pacity for sliding movement. The sleeve 54.V just referred to correspondsto the adjustingnut 37 of the preceding igures, with theeX` ceptionV that it is mounted upon. thev body-r member for axial sliding movement under the control-of an adjusting-screw 5,5, lhavingdits threaded inner end engaged in a; threaded bore 56 in .the said sleeve and extending through a clearance-passage 57 in the chaseroperating member 23, and through abore 58 in the head-portion 17 of the body-member 15. The head 59` of the said adjusting-screw is located in a counter-bore 60 in the head 17 and is held in place therein by thechaserretaining plate 21 which is formed with an aligned hole 61 permitting theengagement of a screw driver with the said screw for turning the same to eifect the adjustment of the sleeve 54. j l

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that my invention may assume varied physical forms without departing from my inventive concept and I, therefore, donot limit myself to the speciiic embodiment herel in chosen for illustration, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim: n i v 1. In a convertible rotary' and non-rotary self-opening die-head, the combinationas a unitary structure for operation in either capacity; of a body-member; a pluralityof outwardly-retractable chasers carried bythe said body-member; a reciprocatingchaserfoperat- -pifng-and-resetting hand-lever ing member Ycari-lied by the sai-d body-member pforoperating 'the :said chasers and having chaserclosing and Chaser-retracted positions spring-meansV normally urging the 'said chaser-operating member vinto its Chaser-retracted position; locking-means rforreleasably holde the said 'chaser-operating member rin its chaser-olosing position; a combined-resetting-endtripping Vsleeve operatively con- ;ne'oted'to the said .locking-means for releas ing the same sand having area-rwa'rdly-'f-aoing annular .-resett'ingsshoulder and an annulair forwardly-'facing' tripping-'shoulder and provided with VYmeans `engageableV directly -'vvith 'the saidgc'haser-operating member for moving the same forwardly into its lockedy positionbut free for relative rearward movement respect thereto for releasing the said loolirrg-'vmeansgi and a vcombined 'tripoutwardly Y projectilngfrom Ithe die-head structure lfand having Aoperative bearings in the said body# member :and 2thesaid tripping sleeve respectively; means for .pivotal'ly connecting said lever with one of the members -i-n which it has a bearing and I'charact'eri'zed by being removable 'fromsuch 'member so that the lever may be separated from `:the die-head structure Without requiring the disassembly thereof; whereby the said chaserfoperatin'g member is eapable fof b'eing tripped and reset 'both byl the-said lever and-by Vthe said tripping-sleeve soithat Ythedie-head-may Ebe readily converted from 1a non-rotaryto `al rotary die-head Iby the'removal ofthe said lever andvi'ee versav Y by theyre-installation fof the said lever. v

`22. convertible rotaryA and non-'rotary self-opening vl'die-head Vv'as Y- deli-ned vin 'claim 1 Vin which the-said handle-lever ispivotally Vconnected withfthe said ehaser-resetting-and'- trippingsleeve.`v .Y Y

vf3. convertible rotary and none-rotary se-eopeningdi-e-head as defined inV claim l in "which lthe v'pivotal'connection of said hand lever fcompri'ses. @an 'axially-removable pivot pin' projecting therethrough andA 'bearing at its ends in the said tripping-and-resetting sleeve'. f y

'-4. In a convertible rotary and nonrotary selfopening `die-head'*the combination as fa unitary structure for operation .in either ca- Y pacity'; *of 1a 'body-member; aplurlalijty fof esv outwardly-retractable chasers kcarried by `the said #bodfyfmembem a reciprocating lch'aseroperating member carried by Ithe said body;-

` chfasersretraetedpositions, and provided with Vforwardly-proje'o'ting` operating-pins engag-V ing the said chasers for .operating the same in 'beth direct-ions; jspringqneans normally argi``r1g`A fthe saidY ehaser-operafting member irrto'its -chaserere'tracted posit-ion; Zlock-ingmeans for vrelea"sa-bly holdingthe #said chaseroperating; membery V'and the chasereoperating `pinscarried thereby `in their chasen'closing pes-moes respectively; e. combined fe-Sealing- Y andtripping sleeve operatively @connected to the fsaifd lio'cking-meansffor releasing the same and VShaving .'a rearwardly-.facing 'annular f resettinfgfshoulder and an annularlforwardlyfa'cinfg ltripping-shioulder and provided with means en'gxugeafble directly with theY said chasm-operating -nl'ember` for moving the sameforwardly into its flocked' position .but free for relative rearward movement with respect thereto .for releasing the said lookin@- means; Vand :a combined tripping-iandreset-VV ting hand-lever outwardly'projectiing from the difeehead structure and 'having :operative:

bearings :in the sai'djbody-memberand 'the said Ttriappiii-'gesleeve respectively,A means for pivotallyconnecti-ng `said .lever with oneof t-hfe members which it has zafb'earing, and.

characterized by being removable fir-om such member so that the lever :maybe separated from the dieJhead structure without requiring- 'the disassembly thereof; whereby the said wheeler-operatingmember is capable of being tripped .fand reset :both by the 'sa-id lever and by 'the said tripping-sleevefso that'the die'hfead maybe readily .converted from a non-rotary to a 'rotary die-headl by the 1reino-val :of .the :said lever y.and vice `ver-saby the rev-installation of the saidlever.

,5. Y'n (convertible rotary :and non-rotary.

self-openitng"dieshea'd, the oombiiiationas -a u-nlirtary-struetwre 'for voperation in either capacity.; fof body-mem ber andchasers ooV thereof.; .a reciprocating'chaserecontrolling' Y sleeve formed with a forwardly-'fading "annu-Y lar chas'ersreleasingl shoulder` 'and with a rearwardly-.lacing annular z Chaser-resetting showlder, rboh-adapted fto be engaged by areflatively ffixed aneirrbercarried by ra .thread-y ing imachizne'rto 4wihic'h -saidf-die-head is plied, Said member "adapted Kto feleot .the retraction fand resetting Vvlof the; said V.chasers by fappropriate reciprocation of .said/sleeve gf and a. combined:chester-releasing and chaserrese'tting hand-lever having van voperative roe ies

connection with the said .Chaser-controlling sleeve fand adapted for reciprocating the same, said lever mounted in the ldieliead strudture -c'apacityfor -:readyl removal therefrom without disassembling the same; whereby :two optional 'means are provided sleeve xWithout disturbing the 'unitary die-v izs 

